Hydraulic classifier.



. other suitable material.

HOVARD S. BAILEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HYDRAULIC CLASSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed October 27, 1902. Serial No. 128,960.

.To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD S. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HydraulicOlassiliers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic classifiers forclassifying or grading ore-pulp; and the objects of my invention are,iirst, to provide a hydraulic classifier in which ore-pulp flowingthereto that is of a lumpy consistency is disintegrated; second, toprovide a hydraulic classifier in which the orepulp is passed through aconical sieve arranged to cause the ore-pulp to fall in a circularshower; third, to provide an upward-flowing pyramidal-shaped jet ofwater that will charge and spread out a falling body of ore-pulp inahydraulic classifier; fourth, to provide means for separating thelighter particles of ore-pulp from the heavier. I attain these objectsby the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a central sectional side elevation of a group of my improvedhydraulic classi-- fiers arranged in tandem order. Fig. 2 is a sectionelevation of the conical sieve I employ to cause the orepulp to fall ina shower. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the water-current-distributing ring.

Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates thebody of myhydraulic classifier; and it consists, preferably, of an invertedconical chamber, (although any other suitablyshaped water and ore-pulpholding vessel orl chamber may be employed,) which is prefer-- ably madeof sheet-steel, galvanized iron, or At its bottom a largedischarge-pipe? is connected, which leads to a storage-tank or directlyto a concentrator. A controlling-valve 2A is inserted in thedischarge-pipe to retain the ore-pulp concentrates as they are made orto regulate their copious outflow, as desired. At one side of its topportion a discharge-spout 3 is placed. A hopper fl is placed centrallyin the top of the conical cylinder, into which ore-pulp is dischargedfrom a spout or launder 5, which conducts the ore-pulp from a stamp-millor from rolls, Huntington mills, or other ore crushing or pulverizingmachinery.

The hopper is supported by brackets 6, Which extend from it to theinside. A hollow or cylindrical bottomless conical screen or sieve 7 ispositioned centrally in the top of the conical cylinder with its apexextending into the bottom of the hopper. This conical sieve ispreferably uted, and the bottom and sides of the flutes are perforatedwith slotapertures arranged in any suitable random order to interceptthe particles of ore-pulp as they slide down the liutes of the sieve.This conical sieve is supported by brackets 8, which are secured to theinner sides of the cylinder.

Adjacent to the apex portion of the sieve and just below the hopper Iplace round the apex of the sieve a water-jet ring of pipe 9, which alsoacts as a general water-supply pipe and is provided with a large numberof jet-apertures arranged closely together and positioned in the ring todischarge jets of water under pressure against the surfaces of theflutes of the conical sieve. The object of this circle of forcible jetsis to disintegrate any lumps 0f ore-pulp that flow from the hopper intothe conical sieve and into the classifier, and thus separate theore-pulp particles one from another. A water-supply pipe 10 is connectedto the ring, which extends to a supply of water under pressure, such asa tank. A valve 1l is placed-in the supply-pipe to regulate the supplyof Water and the pressure of the jets. Then classifying some ores, thesepulp-disintegrating jets may not be needed, and the water can be turnedoff or the use of the pipering dispensed with.

At a suitable distance below the conical sieve I place a combinedwater-distributing ring 12. rI his Water-distributing ring comprises twoconcentric rings of unequal diameter separated by a concentric spacebetween them large enough to permit of the free passage of the largerparticles of ore-pulp as they fall by gravity to the bottom of thecylinder of the classifier. The rings are, however, connected togetherby spokes 13. The outer ring is also of a diameter relative to thediameter of the cylinder of the classifier to leave a space between itsouter periphery and the surrounding sides of the chamber to permit ofthe passage of falling particles of orepulp.

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While l show a water-distributing ring of two coils, my inventioncontemplates a ring of any number of coils.

l provide each coil of the water-distributing ring with a plurality ofsmall holes 14, but arrange them at different angles as will give a jetthat will scatter into a circular spray. I arrange the jets apertures inthe center ring portion, so that they will discharge toward the verticalaxis of the ring and all meet at a common point below the conical sieveand in substantial alinement with its vertical axis and of the axis ofthe chamber of the classifier, so that combined they form a pyramidaljet of water 15, that pierces the axial center of the circular shower ofore-pulp.

The apertures in the larger ring are arranged at such various angles aswill give a field of spray-jets that will provide a continuous upwardfine spray of water throughout the entire space between the pyramidaljet and the surrounding sides of the conical cylinder.

The jet-apertures can be drilled or formed in the shell of the rings;but in order to better direct the course of the jets I preferably securetubes 16 in the apertures, as their angles of direction can be slightlyadjusted after they are secured in the rings by bending them with awrench or with pliers to stand in the required position, or the holescan be drilled so that the tubes screwed into them will stand at therequired angle.

l provide the rings with a supply of water under a regulated pressurethrough a supplypipe 17, which enters the chamber of the classifierbelow the water-distributer through a boss 17, to which the supply-pipeis pref'- erably secured. An elbow 18 is secured on the inner end of thesupply-pipe, and a nipple 19 is secured in the elbow to stand verticallyin the central portion of the body of the classifier. A cap 19A issecured to the top of the nipple, and branch pipes 2O extend from thecap to several points in the under part of the rings in order that thesupply and pressure of the water may be evenly distributed. At its outerend the supply-pipe 17 is provided with a pressure-regulating valve 21,from which a pipe 22 leads to a source of water-supply under a slightpressure, such as a tank located a few feet above the classifiers. Abody of water Q3 is maintained in the classifier up to thedischarge-spout by the inflowing jets of water and the Vwater from theorepulp.

The operation of my improved hydraulic classifier is as follows: Thepulverized orepulp is fed into the hopper and falls onto the apex of theconical sieve and distributes itself round it and runs down its fiutes,and a very large portion falls through the apertures in the conicalsieve from its apex to its lower edge. The-ore-pulp particles afterpassing through the sieve drop through the water,

and as they drop from the apertures at the apex to those at thecircumference of its base a circular shower of ore-pulp particles isfalling through the water continuously. This shower is niet by thepyramidal jet of water that spurts up from the center ring of thewater-distributer which pierces or projects into the center of thefalling shower of orepulp particles and diverts them toward the sides ofthe body of the classifier, where they encounter the upward spray of thecircle of spray-jets from the larger ring of the waterdistributer. Thelighter particles are then buoyed or carried up to the top of the bodyof water and discharge through the spout from the classifier andare ledeither into a second classifier, as shown, or in case only oneclassifier is used they should go to a concentrator. rlhe heavierore-pulp particles fall through the water and between and round thedistributing-ring to the bottom of the classifier,from which they aredrawnofil from time to time, or the outfiow can be regulated by thevalve 2^" in the discharge-pipe to fiow continuously.

Hydraulic classifiers are generally used in tandem sets of two or threeor more, as shown. The ore-pulp overfiowing from the first isreclassified in the second, and finer concentrates are made and a finergrade of ore-pulp overflows from the second one into the third, thenfrom the first into the second, and from the third into the fourth, &c.Three are most generally used and are sufficient for most ores. Theproduct overflowing` from the third classifier from a finely-pulverizedore-pulp will be slimes and is treated by concentration or some othermethod for its values. The concentrates that collect in the bottom of'each classifier will with some ores be ore-'pulp concentrates and willneed 'retreatment by concentration or by some other method; but on someores these concentrates can be made mineral particles or mineralconcentrates. The classifying' or grading of the particles depends uponthe specific gravity of the mineral particles and the gangue in theore-pulp and the proper regulation of the force or pressure of theupward-flowing spray-jets.

Having described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire t0 secureby Letters Patent, is`

1. Ahydraulic classifier,comprisingachamber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, and means forfeeding ore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby thepulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower,substantially as described.

2. A hydraulic classifier, comprising a chamber having suitable outlets,aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from IOO IIO

the walls ot' the chamber, means for feeding ore-pulp downwardly uponand through said screen, whereby the pulp is caused to fall through thechamber in a circular shower, and means for directing a current of waterupwardly against the shower of pulp, substantially as described.

8. A hydraulic classilier,comprising a chainber having suitable outlets,a conical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, means forfeeding ore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby thepulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower, andmeans for directing a di'used spray of water upwardly against the showerof pulp, substantially as described.

a. A hydraulic classifier,comprisingachamber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, means forfeeding ore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby thepulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower, andmeans for directing a plurality of currents of water upwardly toward acommon point below said screen, substantially as described.

5. A hydraulic classilier,c0mprisingachamber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced awaymfrom the walls of the chamber, means Jforfeeding ore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby thepulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower, andmeans for directing separate concentric currents of water upwardlyagainst the shower of pulp, substantially as described.

6. A hydraulic classiier,comprising acharnber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, means forfeeding orepulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby thepulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower, andmeans for directing separate concentric conical and annular currents ofwater upwardly against the shower of pulp, substantially as described.

T. A hydraulic classiier,comprising a chamber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, said screenhaving external, longitudinally-arranged ribs, means for feedingore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, whereby the pulp iscaused to fall through the chamber in a circular shower and means fordirecting a current of water upwardly against the shower of pulp,substantially as described.

8. Ahydraulicclassilier,comprisingachamber having suitable outlets, aconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, means forfeeding orepulp downwardly upon and through said screen, and means forspraying water upon said screen, whereby the pulp is caused to fallthrough the chamber in a circular shower, substantially as described.

9. Ahydraulic classilencomprisingachamber having suitable outletsaconical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with its apex aboveand its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber, means forfeeding orepulp downwardly upon and through said I screen, and aperforated, annular, water-supply tube surrounding the upper end of saidscreen, whereby the pulp is caused to fall through the chamber in acircular shower, substantially as described.

.10. A hydraulic classifier, comprising a chamber having suitableoutlets, a conical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with itsapex above and its sides spaced away from the wallsoi' the chamber,means for feeding ore-pulp downwardly upon and through said screen, aperforated, annular, water-supply tube surrounding the upper end of saidscreen, whereby the pulp is caused to fall through the chamber in acircular shower, and means for directing a current of water upwardlyagainst the shower of pulp, substantially as described.

1l. A hydraulic classifier, comprising a chamber having suitableoutlets, a conical screen vertically arranged in said chamber with itsapex above and its sides spaced away from the walls of the chamber,means for feeding ore-pulp downwardly upon said screen, a perforated,annular, water-supply tube surrounding' the upper end of said screen,whereby the pulp is caused to fall through the chamber in a circularshower, and means for directing separate concentric currents of waterupwardly against the shower of pulp, substantially as described.

l2. In a hydraulic classiiier, the combination of the chamber, thehopper, the conical screen arranged below the hopper and having awater-supply ring surrounding it between its apex end and said hopper,and the concentric water-distributing rings arranged below said conicalscreen and provided with jettubes', substantially as described.

13. In a hydraulic classiiier, the combination of the chamber, providedwith a valved outlet and hopper, the conical sieve below said hopper,the water-supply ring surrounding said sieve at its apex portion, awaterdistributing group of circular pipes arranged below said conicalscreen and arranged to project a plurality of spray-jets inpredetermined radial and .circumferential order from said rings upwardlythroughout said chamber, a

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water-supply pipe extending' into said chamber, and distributing-pipesextending' from said supplypipe te predetermined points in said rings,substantially as described.

la. A hydraulic classilier. comprising a chamber provided with anoveri'iow-spout, a valved discharge-outlet in the bottom portion of saidchamber, a hopper in said chamber, a conical sieve in said chamber belowthe hopper, a water-supply ring surrounding said conical sieve at itsapex, and a plurality otl water-distributing pipes arranged below saidconical sieve, the center pipe beingI provided with a convergingcircularrow of water-projecting spray-jets arranged to discharge collectively aconical jet ot water toward the axial center of said conical sieve. andthe outer pipe being' provided with acircular row of radially-arrangedjetapertures arranged to project a plurality oli spray-jets of water ina circular body upwardly between said pyramidal jet and the chamber,substantially as described.

15. ln a hydraulic classifier, a. water and ore-pulp holding chamberprovided with a valved discharge-pipe and an outletehopper centrallypositioned in said chamber, a hollow screen positioned centrally in saidchamber having its apex in Vreed-receiving relation to the discharge ofsaid feed-hopper, a compound water-distributing ring or pipe comprising'a plurality or' rings or coils arranged below said screen and centrallyin said chamber, a watersupply pipe operatively connected to said ringsor pipes and a plurality of spray-jet apertures arranged inpredetermined order to direct a circular row ot jets from thc centercoil or ring ot water axially up toward the axial center ot' the bottomot' said sieve in such a manner as to lorm a pyramidal jet of water andalso to direct a circular row of spray-jets from the outer ring or coilin suitable predetermined upward radial directions, substantially asdescribed.

16. Yin a hydraulic separat-or, the combination oil a suitable chamberprovided with a suitably-valved discharge-aperture at its bottom portionand a suitable overflow at its top portion, with a hopper secured in thecentral portion ot' said chamber, a hollow conical tinted screenpositioned in said chamber below said hopper with its apex arranged toreceive the ore-pulp from said feed-hopper in a stream on the point ofits apex, a water-supply pipe surrounding the apex of said conicalscreen and connected to a supply of water under pressure, and aplurality ot' wate1=distribut ing spray-jet rings positioned below saidconical screen having the center ring provided with a circular row of jet-apertures position ed to project toward the axial center of said conical screen their combined jets into a pyramidal jet ot water, andhaving the surrounding water-distributing ring arranged to project aplurality of jets in such radial and circula-r order that the combinedjets will form a rising cloud of spray-water that shall have a buoyingor lifting ettect and iiow on the body of water and the finer particlesot' orepulp in the water ot' said chamber, and a valved water-supplypipe connected to the plurality of water-distributing rings andconnected to a suitable water-supply under pressure, substantially asdescribed.

17. In a hydraulic classifier', the combination of a suitable chamberprovided with a suitable valved discharge-outlet and an overflow-spout,with the hopper, the spray-jet water-supply ring, the conical screenhaving its apex project through said ring and the water-distributingrings in said chamber below said conical screen provided with tubulardischarge apertures arranged in predetermined order and at variouspredetermined inclinations, and the water supply and distributing pipesconnected to said water-distributing rings, substantially as described.

in testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWYAR'D S. BAILEY. Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT. Bnssm THOMPSON.

